Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Brave-Tern

In a recent incident on June 10, a significant collision involving the wind turbine blade carrier 'Brave Tern' and the 'Wind Keeper' occurred at the Port of Esbjerg, attributed to a deficiency in situational awareness. Bonheur, the parent company of Fred. Olsen Windcarrier, has confirmed that the 'Brave Tern' was en route to transport nine blades for the iconic Siemens Gamesa 14MW turbines. These blades were intended for the ambitious 1.1GW Thor offshore wind farm, which is under development by the German energy leader RWE in Danish waters. While maneuvering to exit the harbor, the 'Brave Tern' collided with the 'Wind Keeper,' subsequently resulting in an unfortunate allision with quay-side infrastructure, further damaging the wind turbine blades.

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) has revealed preliminary insights from their investigation into the allision of the 'Brave Tern' with the 'Wind Keeper' at the Port of Esbjerg on June 10. This event occurred while the 'Brave Tern' was transporting nine wind turbine blades for RWE’s 1.1 GW Thor offshore wind farm. The DMA's findings followed an unannounced survey conducted on June 11, highlighting key aspects of the incident, although the investigation remains ongoing through the Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board. According to the DMA’s preliminary report, the 'Brave Tern' had executed a 180-degree turn and was proceeding at a speed of approximately three to four knots when the incident transpired. A member of the bridge team had moved to the starboard side bridge wing to gauge the clearance between the vessel’s large blade cargo and the 'Wind Keeper', which was docked at the quay. Despite the close proximity, the clearance was initially assessed as adequate based on testimony from crew members. However, a sudden alarm was raised as the cargo began to encroach dangerously close, resulting in a strike to the 'Wind Keeper’s' starboard crane at 7:41 AM LT. Following the collision, the 'Brave Tern' faced challenges in maintaining its course, eventually coming into contact with the quayside about six minutes later. Control was regained using the vessel’s dynamic positioning (DP) system, leading the 'Brave Tern' to a turning basin with the assistance of tugboats before returning to port. Inspection reports from the DMA confirmed that all certificates for the vessel were valid, and no breaches of crew rest-hour requirements were identified prior to the allision. Importantly, no equipment malfunctions were reported leading up to the incident. Investigators noted that the windage effect from the vertically stowed cargo, which extended about 60 meters beyond the starboard side, might have played a significant role in the 'Brave Tern's' handling performance. The damage assessment revealed approximately 12 square meters of hull damage on the 'Brave Tern'. To enhance safety protocols, the DMA has mandated a meeting with the bridge personnel before the vessel's next departure from Esbjerg to discuss the incident and preventive strategies. Cleanup efforts in the Port of Esbjerg have been completed, with divers successfully clearing debris from the wind turbine blades that fell into the water. The estimated costs and damages resulting from the allision are projected to exceed DKK 1 billion (approximately EUR 134 million), while efforts continue to retrieve wing tips that broke off from the fallen blades.

On June 10, 2026, the offshore installation vessel 'Brave Tern', while navigating through challenging weather conditions in Esbjerg, collided with the 'Wind Keeper' (IMO: 9972749) during port operations. The strong winds caused the 'Brave Tern' to lose control, resulting in the loaded turbine components striking both the 'Wind Keeper' and the adjacent dock. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, though one individual was transported to a hospital for precautions. The allision took place shortly after the 'Brave Tern' had taken on components for the 1.1GW Thor offshore wind farm project located off the coast of Jutland. While the Danish Maritime Authority initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the incident and assess the damage to the vessels and cargo, the 'Brave Tern' was detained and is currently moored at position 55° 27' N 008° 28' E in the Esbjerg Offshore Wind Marshalling Berth 02. This incident comes as the installation campaign for the Thor wind farm, which will feature 72 turbines and host the first Siemens Gamesa up to 15MW unit set in March, is set to wrap up by late 2026. For more updates, see reports with photos and videos at the following links: [JV.dk](https://jv.dk/esbjerg/tysk-gigant-bryder-tavsheden-efter-havnedrama-i-esbjerg) and [Presse-fotos.dk](https://presse-fotos.dk/milliardregning-truer-efter-havari-i-esbjerg-havn/).

On December 9, 2023, the offshore construction vessel 'Brave Tern' set sail from Ferrol, heading towards Esbjerg, with the assistance of the Norwegian-flagged tug 'Skandi Mercury'. This departure comes approximately two weeks after a significant incident where one of the vessel's deck cranes caused the collapse of a 'stork' crane at Navantia Ferrol during an unmooring operation. The 'Brave Tern' had spent nearly nine months at Navantia's shipyards in the Ferrol estuary, undergoing a fairing process that included the installation of a new crane aimed at enhancing its capabilities for offshore wind farm installations. The vessel originally arrived at the site in early January, first docking in Fene before moving to Ferrol for upgrades.

On November 24, 2024, a significant incident unfolded at the Navantia A.S. shipyard in Ferrol, A Coruña, when the large deck crane of the 'Brave Tern' became entangled with a portal crane during the vessel's maneuvering operations in the port basin. The unforeseen interaction resulted in the shore-side crane tipping over and plunging into the water. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported. Navantia S.A., S.M.E. is currently engaged in a comprehensive upgrade and crane replacement project for the 'Brave Tern.' The initial phase of this project, which encompassed engineering tasks, material procurement, and prefabrication, was completed in 2023. Following the vessel's arrival at the shipyard on January 20, 2024, the second phase commenced, focusing on on-board installation work. This phase included significant operations in both drydock and alongside a repair berth, utilizing the facilities at both Ferrol and Fene. For further details, you can view the incident video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBYY6eQ9OKg.

The 132-meter jack-up vessel, Brave Tern, operated by Fred. Olsen Windcarrier AS, has successfully concluded a significant crane refurbishment at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam. This project involved the installation of a 20-meter extension to the main boom of the 800-tonne crane, enhancing its capability to reach an impressive height of 120 meters. This critical upgrade equips Brave Tern to efficiently install and service the forthcoming generation of wind turbines. The entire modification process spanned 30 days and required a meticulous approach, starting with the unreeving of all crane wires to facilitate the lowering of the boom onto a specially constructed support structure made from containers. Once in position, the crane boom was carefully severed, and the new section was inserted and secured with flanges. After the integration of the extended boom, the crane wires were re-reeved, followed by a series of load tests to ensure the crane's readiness for operational deployment.